VA Birders,
Thanks to Todd Day's and Gerry Weinberger's reports, Mike Duffy, Pat
Blyer, and I decided to go to Culpeper County this morning and look for the
Dickcissels on Spring Creek Drive (which, by the way, is a right turn off Rt.
15 when you are heading south from Rt. 29). Spring Creek is a gravel road
which is wide enough that you can park your car and walk along it. It was a
delightful experience in the lovely, cool weather this morning.
The field with the Dickcissels is on the left when you drive in; it is a
weedy field rather than a hayfield, so hopefully it will not be cut out from
under the Dickcissels. We heard a Dickcissel as soon as we pulled up, and we
soon found it singing from what seemed to be its favorite perch--the top of
the lefthand bush/low tree in a row of high bushes or low trees (it was
really hard to tell what they were). An Indigo Bunting and a Willow
Flycatcher also spent some time in the same area. A Yellow Warbler and a
Yellow-breasted Chat were spotted in a nearby tree. The field itself was
full of Am. Goldfinches and thistles as well as other wildflowers.
After watching the Dickcissels and other birds in this field for some
time (by the way, I took my scope and was really glad I had it), we walked on
up the road, past a marsh and up a hill, spending about 2 hours in all
birding there. Other highlights included several Grasshopper Sparrows,
Eastern Kingbirds, Brown Thrashers, Blue Grosbeak, Eastern Meadowlark, and
Orchard Oriole. The marsh still had enough water for a muskrat, and we also
saw a young red fox.
Driving back to Arlington on Rt. 29, we stopped for lunch at the Corner
Deli in Remington, which has good sandwiches and restrooms. It is located in
about the only modern brick building in town, at the corner of Bus. Rt. 29
and Sumerduck Road, which I think is Rt. 651. The Deli is closed on Sunday.
Val Kitchens
Arlington, VA
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